The final Jasper Common Council meeting of 2011, the end of twenty years for Mayor Schmitt
The final Jasper Common Council meeting of the 2011 was held last night. This is also the last council meeting current Jasper Mayor Bill Schmitt, Councilman Bud Schitter, Coucilman John Schroeder, and city attorney Sandy Hemmerlein will be attending in their official capacities. Before the meeting began a moment of silence was observed in recognition…
Jasper Utility Service Board heard goodbyes from members and voted on a 12 month extension for Jasper Clean Energy lease
Jasper Utility Service Board Meeting It was a Utility Service Board meeting of “finals” for the City of Jasper Monday night. First, it was the final USB meeting of 2011. Second, it was the final meeting with Sandy Hemmerlein as Board Attorney. And finally it was the final meeting in which the Board addressed Bill…
Ripstra still searching for notes on executive sessions concerning biomass
[quote style=”boxed” float=”right”]Nailing the city down on the research they conducted is “like nailing Jell-o to the wall.” Dr. Norma Kreilein[/quote] In an interview last week, Healthy Dubois County, Inc. Attorney Steve Ripstra stated deposing the city had been difficult. He attempted to depose city officials in August and September but they refused until Judge…
Greater Jasper School Corporation administration changes
The Greater Jasper School Corporation Board met for their monthly meeting today and major announcements were made in a change of leadership for the schools. Superintendent Dr. Jerrill Vandeventer and Assistant Superintendent Mike Hile both submitted retirement requests to the board, which would be effective at the end of the current school year in May…
Mayor’s Foundation of Jasper Award presented by Mayor Schmitt
Mayor Schmitt bestowed his Mayor’s Foundation Of Jasper Award on Ken Sendelweck this past Friday December 16, 2011. The Mayor’s Foundation of Jasper Award was created to honor someone who has improved the quality of life for the citizens of the City of Jasper. The accomplishments of the recipient help to build and strengthen a…
A Stone and Eight Flags
Such emotion for a stone and eight flags but the tears flowed on that cold December day as a community unveiled a symbol dedicated to the service of its men and women. A symbol is naught but for the meaning behind it and in this crowd on that cold day those pieces of stone, steel,…
State Police need help in finding a missing juvenile
Dubois County, Huntingburg: The Indiana State Police needs your help in locating a missing juvenile from Huntingburg. Laura Nicole Schepers, 14, of Huntingburg was reported missing last night to the Indiana State Police in Jasper. According to Trooper Philip Lubbers Laura was last seen December 10 in Huntingburg. She is believed to be with her…
Jasper HTC Inclusiveness Pillar Survey launched
The Inclusiveness Pillar of the Jasper HTC has been a great challenge. The first major challenge was to find out what we needed to find out. The word inclusiveness has many different meanings and everyone uses their own. We have nailed down some major areas in business, religion and schools to see how warm the…
School Board takes tour of new Southridge expansion and updates
The Southwest Dubois County School Superintendent invited school board members and media for a walk-through of the construction at Southridge High School. Michael Schipp, the architect that designed the school addition and the project manager, provided commentary for the tour. Schipp feels a special connection to the construction; he graduated from Southridge in 1983 and…
Jason Burroughs has a long road to recovery
Forest Park Senior Jason Burroughs was struck by a vehicle Tuesday morning. The vehicle driven by Mary Seitz of Branchville ignored the extended sign and stop lights of the school bus that was picking Burroughs and a kindergartener up for school and swerved into the shoulder of the highway as she passed the bus. Seeing…
Volunteer Spotlight-Chris Weyer
This Volunteer Spotlight article is the first in what we hope will be a regular feature calling attention to members of the local volunteer community in an attempt to recognize their efforts and encourage others to get involved. Chris Weyer is a volunteer board member of both the Huntingburg Chamber of Commerce and the Volunteer…
Lindsay Gootee pretrial hearing today
Lindsay Gootee appeared in front of Judge William Weikert today for the pre-trial hearing concerning the aggravated battery of her infant son. Gootee appeared with her lawyer, Michael C. Keating of the Evansville firm Keating and LaPlante Attorneys at Law. Judge Weikert set the next hearing date for January 30, 2012 at 11 a.m. [box…
Mayor-elect Terry Seitz’s statement regarding changes in the City of Jasper
Good morning. I come before you this morning to share news of the transition of government for the City of Jasper. Thanks to Mayor Schmitt and the current staff the transition has been – and will continue to be – very smooth. Because of our solid working relationship I am able to announce my staff…
New Jasper Police Chief biography
Mayor-elect Terry Seitz has appointed J. Michael Bennett as Chief of Police for the Jasper Police Department, effective January 1, 2012. Bennett, a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War, has effectively served the residents of Indiana for 36 years in the fields of law enforcement and security. During his 33-year career with the…
Darla S. Blazey biography
Effective, January 1, 2012, Mayor-elect Terry Seitz has announced the appointment of Darla S. Blazey as Director of Community Development and Planning for the City of Jasper. Blazey will take over a department to be redefined by ordinance as responsible for long-range planning, current planning, economic development, historic preservation, marketing and all building and zoning…
County Council meeting working on tax abatements and I-67
The Dubois County Council and Commissioners met in a joint meeting on Monday to discuss the county-wide tax abatement. The council is considering adopting the same abatement schedule that the City of Jasper passed in October. The county council was interested in the property tax abatement but due to the expressed concern of the County…
Pedestrian – Vehicle accident near Cedar Crest Elementary
According to initial reports; the DC Sheriff’s Department responded to a pedestrian accident near Cedar Crest Elementary. It was reported the driver had left the scene but the Sheriff’s Department may have found the individual./p Update 8:00 a.m. – Driver was elderly female and hit a child; vehicle sustained damage to the passenger side front…
Local business receives fake bill in new scam
Jasper Chamber Executive Director Nancy Ekerle forwarded this recent bill received by a local business. The bill is a scam. Be aware of potential scams similar to these in which fake bills are mailed to businesses. Contact local law enforcement if you suspect you may be a victim of a scam.
Dubois County Visitors Center & Tourism Commission Accepting Grant Applications
The Dubois County Visitors Center & Tourism Commission is now accepting applications for grants from the Tourism Promotion Fund. Grant applications are open to not-for-profit, tourism-related organizations, festivals, events, attractions and others which will increase visitor attendance from outside the immediate area. Approved applications for projects or events that have previously been funded may receive…
Dubois County Community Foundation ribbon cutting held on Friday, Dec. 9
On Friday, Dec 9, the Dubois County Community Foundation celebrated a ribbon cutting at their new location on McCrillus Street in Jasper. Past president Brad Seger was on hand to cut the ribbon for the new building. “I think the important thing to remember is that this new building was built through gifts and donations…
Stens Corporation reaches agreement with Kimball on building
Jim O’neal, WITZ News Director, contributed to this report. Stens Corporation in Jasper has reached a verbal agreement with Kimball International on the purchase of the Kimball property on Power Drive on Jasper’s south side. The company sold its current building and with a deadline of June 2012 was in the process of finding a…
VU initiates scholarship for middle-income families
Middle-income families who have struggled to qualify for college financial aid will receive a major boost this fall thanks to a new scholarship being introduced by Vincennes University. The scholarship will offer a 15 percent reduction in tuition fees for students from middle-income families in Indiana. According to VU officials, the new Middle-Income Hoosier Scholarship…
The Schnitzelbank’s Bratwurst will be featured among 46 best sandwiches for Super Bowl
The Schnitzelbank Bratwurst will be competing in this year’s Super Bowl of sandwiches. The Indiana Office of Tourism Development (IOTD) worked with Indianapolis Monthly and the Super Bowl Host Committee to develop a list of Super 46 Sandwiches. Super 46 Sandwiches is a list of the 46 best sandwiches in Indiana that Super Bowl visitors…
Forbes “World’s Top Christmas Destinations” List includes Santa Claus, IN with likes of Rome and Paris
Forbes magazine, one of the world’s leading business magazines, has declared the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, as one of the “World’s Top Christmas Destinations.” In the article, Forbes magazine claimed Santa Claus, Indiana, “enthusiastically embraces its role, with a wide array of Santa-themed shops and attractions” such as Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, the…
Artist Adam Hood to perform at Ferdinand Folk Fest Announcement Party/Fundraiser Jan. 28
The Ferdinand Folk Festival organizers will hold the 2012 lineup announcement party and fundraiser on Saturday, January 28, 2012, at Foxy Hollow ([highlight]map below[/highlight]) beginning at 8 p.m. (EST). The featured performer for the evening will be Carnival Recording artist Adam Hood and tickets are $12. Foxy Hollow is an intimate venue and seating will…
Pine Ridge Elementary students continue tradition of donating toys from school gift exchange to “Toys for Tots”
As is customary for this time of year, the students of Pine Ridge Elementary School conduct a gift exchange, but for the last several years the students of Susan Brier’s third grade class have taken it a step further. Several years ago, when Mrs. Brier’s class heard about the “Toys for Tots” program sponsored by…
Jasper Arts Commission Board Meeting for December 6
The Jasper Arts Commission Board met Tuesday afternoon for their regular monthly meeting. Commission Director Kit Miracle reports that the organization is about 20 percent under budget for the year. She says that the work on both parking lots, which came in well under projections, has allowed them to remain under budget for the calendar…
Mike Schriefer to run for State Representative in District 74
Mike Schriefer, a retired educator from Spencer County, announced today he is running as a Democratic candidate for State Representative in District 74. “I’m so concerned about the working environment in Indianapolis right now,” Schriefer said. “Members of the General Assembly need to focus on getting Hoosiers back to work, not pitting Hoosiers against each…
Foundation’s ArtWorks grant awards $10,000 for Dance & Fitness
Dance & Fitness Coming to Events Center When Huntingburg Foundation convened with art enthusiasts in July of 2010, the idea to promote the arts reached deep into the group’s imagination, but making those ideas a reality fell short of anything concrete. Then the Foundation met Carolyn Randolph of Dance Central Academy, Rachel Berg of YMCA,…
Dubois County Highway Superintendent receives statewide award
The Indiana Association of County Commissioner (IACC) is pleased to announce that Steve Berg was selected IACC’s 2011 Outstanding Highway Supervisor of the Year. The award is in recognition of his contributions made to county government throughout his years of public service. Steve Berg Dubois County Highway Supervisor has a background in construction and it…
